McCotter out

posted at 7:01 pm on July 7, 2012 by Jazz Shaw

An unexpected exit stage right took place this week in American politics as Michigan Congressman Thad McCotter resigned his position in the House effective immediately. It’s been something of a long, strange trip leading up to this point – though McCotter actually quoted Bob Dylan in his resignation announcement rather than The Grateful Dead – and plenty of people were left wondering.

I interviewed Congressman McCotter twice during the primary season and he always struck me as a nice guy, capable and smart. Unfortunately, he also may have been the only person who was aware that he was actually running for president. In addition, he constantly seemed to be battling for a sliver segment of the primary vote with people like Buddy Roemer. He embraced the idea of campaign fiance reform to an extreme, which is a valid topic of discussion to be sure, but not one that was going to rally the base to his flag.

So what happened?

“After nearly 26 years in elected office, this past nightmarish month and a half have, for the first time, severed the necessary harmony between the needs of my constituency and of my family,” McCotter said on his Facebook page. “As this harmony is required to serve, its absence requires I leave.”

McCotter failed to qualify for the primary ballot after most of his petition signatures were recently found to be fraudulent. State officials are investigating the matter.

McCotter initially opted to run a write-in campaign, but then announced he would not seek reelection.

His statement continued: “The recent event’s totality of calumnies, indignities and deceits have weighed most heavily upon my family. Thus, acutely aware one cannot rebuild their hearth of home amongst the ruins of their U.S. House office, for the sake of my loved ones I must ‘strike another match, go start anew’ by embracing the promotion back from public servant to sovereign citizen.”

How most of his signatures wound up being thrown out is a mystery which will have to wait for a full investigation, but I’d like to think it was just carelessness or some disreputable volunteers. His comments about “indignities and deceits” leads me to think that he believes somebody on his own team acted in bad faith. But Thad may not have had his eye entirely on the ball for a while now. He was apparently also working on a pitch for a television show.

McCotter’s bizarre period continued this week when the Detroit News reported that he had written a TV pilot with a rather odd premise — McCotter himself hosting a crude variety show that joked about flatulence and female anatomy, among other things. The script was leaked to the newspaper by a former staffer who thought it unbecoming a member of Congress.

If McCotter ever tries a return to public life, here’s a bumper-sticker idea for his foes: “McCotter: Not Welcome Back.”

McCotter has declared that he won’t be giving any more interviews until the investigation into the tossed signatures is concluded. And perhaps that’s for he best. But no matter the outcome, let’s just bid a fond farewell to the man, thank him for his many years of public service and wish him the best of luck in the private sector.

Sometimes lame = funny. Mr. McCotter’s TV idea is not one of those times:

“Bumper Sticker: Made On Motown” starred McCotter hosting a crude variety show cast with characters bearing the nicknames of his congressional staffers, his brother and a drunk, perverted “Black Santa.” They take pot shots about McCotter’s ill-fated bid for the White House while spewing banter about drinking, sex, race, flatulence, puking and women’s anatomy. It features a cartoon intro and closing snippet with an Oldsmobile careening through Detroit and knocking over the city’s landmarks. The double-finned car has a Michigan license plate reading: “Made on MoTown.”

I’d like to think it was just carelessness or some disreputable volunteers. His comments about “indignities and deceits” leads me to think that he believes somebody on his own team acted in bad faith.

He pissed off someone on the left who took the grudge as an opportunity to make a veiled threat to all other conservative candidates for continuing to oppose obama’s push to communism.

I hope at least they examine the handwriting for too many common points in each petition page and prosecute the offenders. Wishful thinking…commies prosecuting commies for their felonious behavior, right.

That said, he never had a chance anyway. Can’t imagine why his wife let him humiliate himself like that.

87% of McCotter’s petition signatures– required to place him as a candidate on the August primary ballot– were declared invalid. 87%.

Photocopying on the petitions was so rampant that one sheet with 15 signatures was copied once or in some cases two times with the duplicates mixed into the stack. In those cases, 15 signatures would be turned into 30 or 60. The difference between the copies would be changes to the petition identification number and in some cases a different petition circulator’s signature.

The overt copying is “frankly unheard of,” said Chris Thomas, Michigan’s director of elections, as he thumbed through the stack of petitions Tuesday. “It’s amazing when you sit and look, and it starts to dwell on you what they’ve done.”

Further:

In addition to the copies, the petitions appear to be cut and pasted in some cases. On some pages, the lines and letters on the forms don’t align or have been cut off, suggesting an alteration.

Now that’s the sort of thing you can only do if you’re posting a presidential birth certificate online. It certainly wasn’t “carelessness.” “Sabotage,” perhaps. If the “how” is still under investigation, the “what” that happened seems pretty clear. Distracted by an unnoticed run for the GOP presidential nomination and pitching a raunchy tv show, McCotter forgot he was petitioning to be on the ballot as a candidate for Michigan’s newly-created 11 CD.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, a Republican, called the development a “colossal blunder.”

“It was a safe seat, the Legislature drew the seat and basically protected the incumbent,” Patterson said, referring to the once-a-decade redistricting process. “He put it in play when it should have been a no-brainer.”

Thad’s been my congressman for a long time. I always liked him. The only guy on the ballot for the GOP is a Tea Party guy named Kerry Bentivolio. The party is trying to run someone as a write-in, but Kerry doesn’t look too bad:

My first act as a Congressman will be to propose to the House of Representatives the following amendment to the Constitution:

The Congress shall not have the power to lay and collect taxes in order to compel any person or persons to engage in commerce, nor shall Congress have the power to lay and collect taxes from any person or persons for a failure to engage in any form of commercial activity.

Seems someone has it in for McCotter. I remember he tangled publicly with Romney over the auto bailout. That he was disqualified over signatures signals foul-play. Attacking him for the screenplay is nothing more than cheap, sleazy character assassination.

Of course that’s a no no these days. Sure, it used to be that maybe a fifth of conservatives (or more?) would express support for McCainesque finance reform, but what’s changed is not so much the issue, but our understanding of it. We understand that with the liberal virtual control of almost all of the MSM, the only place where we have a chance to even out the playing field a bit is with self-directed self-financed campaigns. McCain didn’t and apparently still doesn’t understand this.
Another thing McCain championed was climate change. Now conservatives en masse have rejected the theory (in a Pew poll only 19% of Repubs said they believe in man-made gwarming). This is another central issue to conservatives as we feel like we were duped by leftists on this, and gwarming is the primary justification for O’s deleterious war on energy.
Sure, we want our candidates to be able to cross the aisle, and we want a diversity of views, and it is a big tent. But certain issues, like campaign finance reform and climate change, have become virtual litmus tests, as these issues have taken on cardinal importance to the everyday people that make up the base of the Repub party.

Seems someone has it in for McCotter. I remember he tangled publicly with Romney over the auto bailout. That he was disqualified over signatures signals foul-play. Attacking him for the screenplay is nothing more than cheap, sleazy character assassination.

This is what happens when you cross the big-boys.

sartana on July 7, 2012 at 7:28 PM

What Big Boys?

Honestly I don’t think I’ve really heard of the guy in any great depth. I listen/watch “Red Eye”, but i don’t on a regular basis, so i never really saw heard from him.

While the thing with the signatures is disturbing (Attention, DOJ, we got something for you to do!) especially in a failing city-state like Michigan.

BTW, which party runs the majority of Michigan politics, especially for Detroit?

As for the script…well either he wrote it or not. As a fan of Opie & Anthony style “cringe humor”, this show doesn’t sound like it woulda gotten any traction regardless.

But considering some of the *other* members of the House, and their shenanigans, is he any worse than a Rangle, Clyburn, Pelosi, et al?

How is the competition on the Dem side of the ticket? What are the demographics of your district? Will this seat hold for the GOP?

Over here on the west side of the state, we have some terrific tea party congresspeeps who actually have voted in the interests of the smaller government, against the GOP elite. We are proud of them. They will easily win re-elction.

Seems someone has it in for McCotter. I remember he tangled publicly with Romney over the auto bailout. That he was disqualified over signatures signals foul-play. Attacking him for the screenplay is nothing more than cheap, sleazy character assassination.

This is what happens when you cross the big-boys.

sartana on July 7, 2012 at 7:28 PM

I liked McCotter. Thought he was and still think he is a good man.

Agree that he and Romney did not get along and I would want McCotter to be the better man re: the ballots by not saying anything else until after the investigation which HE REQUESTED. Now we see if Romney’s guy’s or Obamatrons can paint him badly or do they care at this point to even try since he’s out?

re: the screen play? I don’t believe that would be the 5 second pitch. I mean – come on – its way too long and way to smashed together. I think someone took something out of context when quoting him or don’t know his style or humor.

My first act as a Congressman will be to propose to the House of Representatives the following amendment to the Constitution:

The Congress shall not have the power to lay and collect taxes in order to compel any person or persons to engage in commerce, nor shall Congress have the power to lay and collect taxes from any person or persons for a failure to engage in any form of commercial activity.

Actually only the Detroit area is blue after the 2010 elections. There are some remaining blue congressional districts outside of the immediate detroit area, but overall more red than blue congress peeps.

Also, MI went very red in 2010, governor, state wide offices and the legislature. Until our governor unexpectedly vetoed some more stringent voter registration rules this week, he was performing pretty well for being a “moderate” type of GOP office holder. He ran on fiscal restraints and pretty much ignored any conservative social issues.

Slowly, the overwhelming influence of Detroit over Michigan politics has drastically abated because of the severe loss of population in that part of the state. As a rule, the unemployment rate on the western side of MI is always lower than the SE side of the state because the economy is much more diverse on the west side of the state.

I don’t expect it to turn deep Red overnight, but it *is* heartening that it’s taking real steps.

Had a friend that came through the area a few times (not sure which offhand), and he’s a serious photog hound & collector…he showed me pix of certain parts of Detroit from *now* and compared them to NYC during the 1970’s after they nearly declared bankruptcy…

The similarities were damned scary…and we both went through and remember those days.

Always liked the guy. I actually met him once, briefly. Very friendly. Very funny. But let’s call a spade a spade: Something is seriously off in this guy’s life, and that train wreck may cost the GOP a House seat at a time when they need every single one they can get. Not cool. Not cool at all. The phrase “Grow the hell up” comes to mind, and one should not have to say that to a multi-term Congressman.

Despite his being glib and quick with the one-liners for an interview, McCotter is no prize. You can pretend he is a conservative all day, and he certainly makes the noises, but he has been a union tool since day one.

AFAIK, he has never voted against Big Labor, ever.

Now he is caught submitting phoney petitions. Where is the outrage? If he were a Democrat, you and the rest of the conservative blogosphere would be all over it. Oh, yeah, must have been some lazy underling, he’s mad about it, nothing to see here, move along.

one of his Dem opponents is a Larouchie and the other is some doctor in Canton I believe. Brooks P. is trying to get a former state senator in as a Repub write in. I gotta get Walberg re-elected in my new district. Lot of Dems in my SE corner of the state.

Those of us outside the Detroit area don’t care if it falls off the planet. So far, I don’t think the votes are there to bail the city out, and as long as we don’t have to pay for their horrible, incompetent crony corrupted city management decisions in Detroit, I am ok.

I gotta get Walberg re-elected in my new district. Lot of Dems in my SE corner of the state.

8 weight on July 7, 2012 at 9:19 PM

They removed Battle Creek from Wahlberg’s district so he should be OK to get re-elected. Grand Rapids and Justin Amash absorbed Battle Creek into district 2, and Justin is very popular, so he will get re-elected. Meanwhile, I got bumped from Amash into District 2, which is Pete Hoekstra’s old district. While the district 2 rep is pretty good, Amash is more of a hard core tea party rep, which I respect.

I always liked McCotter. Seemed to be a decent guy and he played a mean guitar. I remember seeing some interview with him on TV where I learned that he played guitar and had a group called the 2nd Amendments for a while.

I think he may be the only 100% sane person in Congress. Unfortunately, that makes him equally rare in the populace at large. He’s on par with Carlin in seeing people as they are, in my book. He’d make a helluva pollster.

I don’t expect it to turn deep Red overnight, but it *is* heartening that it’s taking real steps.

Had a friend that came through the area a few times (not sure which offhand), and he’s a serious photog hound & collector…he showed me pix of certain parts of Detroit from *now* and compared them to NYC during the 1970′s after they nearly declared bankruptcy…

The similarities were damned scary…and we both went through and remember those days.

BlaxPac on July 7, 2012 at 8:02 PM

I hate to say this, but as someone who has spent time a decent amount of time in NYC in the 70’s, and who has visited Detroit several times fairly recently-NYC in the 70’s was nowhere near as bad as Detroit is now.

The whole McCotter thing looks like obvious sabotage, but I have to wonder about what kind of staff he had that let that kind of crap go on. Obviously Mr. McCotter lost interest in being an elected official, and is more interested in being a media personality,

As someone who was a fan of his, and who liked the idea of his run for the Presidency, this is really disappointing.

I liked McCotter until I discovered that he was unapologetic in his defense of kickbacks, government funds and bailouts for car companies. He would be there on Red Eye one minute talking about how tough we needed to get in attacking corruption and the next minute angrily and passionately arguing that more government money for car companies was absolutely essential. He may be an adequate Congressman considering the pathetic alternatives, but he can’t be a Tea Party leader (let alone presidential candidate) with that kind of hypocrisy.

I hate to say this, but as someone who has spent time a decent amount of time in NYC in the 70′s, and who has visited Detroit several times fairly recently-NYC in the 70′s was nowhere near as bad as Detroit is now.

Dreadnought on July 7, 2012 at 11:28 PM

I’ve should have added, I actually *lived* in NYC during that time, and again, it’s not that far off.

Between 1970-79 you had…

IIRC 4 Brown/Blackouts.

Nearly declared Bankruptcy.

Strikes, hindering the city speedy recovery by nearly *every* major union.

The Radical movement had a hub here because of Columbia & NYU. Vietnam was winding down, so these …critters…didn’t have anything else to snivel about other than the war or the US Government.

Don’t forget the drug problem (Heroin was big Uptown, and Coke was for the party heads).

…Oh did i mention the Mob wars? Wiseguys were knocking each over like flies back then too, especially 1976-1979. Check some old issues of the NY Daily News and you’ll see what I mean.

I will go with those that are “on the ground” in the Motor City. I know about the politics (somewhat) but it’s not the same as actually being there. I hope its not as bad as the pics suggested, but it was just my 2 nickels opinion anyways…lol

The whole McCotter thing looks like obvious sabotage, but I have to wonder about what kind of staff he had that let that kind of crap go on. Obviously Mr. McCotter lost interest in being an elected official, and is more interested in being a media personality,

As someone who was a fan of his, and who liked the idea of his run for the Presidency, this is really disappointing.

Should’ve kept your eye on the ball, Congressman McCotter.

Epic fail. with a capital F.

Dreadnought on July 7, 2012 at 11:31 PM

…when I was first married, that man sat across the dining room table from me and my bride on a dead end street talking politics for over an hour…and when I called his office a year later for advice got a call from HIM 20 minutes later.
Last year I needed information about the congressional hearings on the BP oil spill…called the local office he had opened years ago in my hometown and left 3 messages on the voicemail 3 different days. Called his original office in Livonia 3 different days, called the office in D.C. 3 different days and sent 3 emails…all in the span of 2 weeks. Never talked to a person…just left voice-mails…and never got a response…only literature and emails for money. SOMETHING WAS UP!

The whole McCotter thing looks like obvious sabotage, but I have to wonder about what kind of staff he had that let that kind of crap go on. Obviously Mr. McCotter lost interest in being an elected official, and is more interested in being a media personality,

As someone who was a fan of his, and who liked the idea of his run for the Presidency, this is really disappointing.

Should’ve kept your eye on the ball, Congressman McCotter.

Epic fail. with a capital F.

Dreadnought on July 7, 2012 at 11:31 PM

…when I was first married, that man sat across the dining room table from me and my bride on a dead end street talking politics for over an hour…and when I called his office a year later for advice got a call from HIM 20 minutes later.
Last year I needed information about the congressional hearings on the BP oil spill…called the local office he had opened years ago in my hometown and left 3 messages on the voicemail 3 different days. Called his original office in Livonia 3 different days, called the office in D.C. 3 different days and sent 3 emails…all in the span of 2 weeks. Never talked to a person…just left voice-mails…and never got a response…only literature and emails for money. SOMETHING WAS UP!

Always liked the guy. I actually met him once, briefly. Very friendly. Very funny. But let’s call a spade a spade: Something is seriously off in this guy’s life, and that train wreck may cost the GOP a House seat at a time when they need every single one they can get. Not cool. Not cool at all. The phrase “Grow the hell up” comes to mind, and one should not have to say that to a multi-term Congressman.

Rational Thought on July 7, 2012 at 8:19 PM

If anyone is costing the GOP a House seat it’s the party establishment. They could have rallied behind the Tea Party candidate, but instead of wasted tens of thousands of dollars on a write-in that probably won’t win. When Romney loses Michigan by a percentage point or two, you can guess where that money went.

How is the competition on the Dem side of the ticket? What are the demographics of your district? Will this seat hold for the GOP?

Over here on the west side of the state, we have some terrific tea party congresspeeps who actually have voted in the interests of the smaller government, against the GOP elite. We are proud of them. They will easily win re-elction.

karenhasfreedom on July 7, 2012 at 7:44 PM

Right now its a battle between the Tea party and the establishment. Patterson is worried that Kerry will use his office to propel the Tea Party so they’re running a RINO write in. The Dem should be tough but the district leans red and ts avred year.

Youre right about the west side guys, they’re great. Kerry got endorsed by Amash.

Right now its a battle between the Tea party and the establishment. Patterson is worried that Kerry will use his office to propel the Tea Party so they’re running a RINO write in. The Dem should be tough but the district leans red and ts avred year.

Youre right about the west side guys, they’re great. Kerry got endorsed by Amash.